Mixed PAES Practice Test

Torque in a rubber-flexible coupling is transmitted through the rubber element itself—the elastomer insert between the two hubs. When the driving side turns, the elastomer deforms, mainly by shear, and this deformation passes the rotation to the driven side. This elastic path also provides damping and helps accommodate small misalignments. By contrast, gear couplings transfer torque via meshing gears, rigid couplings use a solid metal connection, and fluid couplings rely on viscous shear in a hydraulic fluid. The defining feature here is that torque is carried through the rubber/elastomer material.